Continuous-flow water-heater.



1. n. JACKSON. CONTINUOUS FLOW WATER HEATER.

APPLICATlON FILED SEPT. 23.19l5.

Patented June 19, 1917.

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D. 3ACKSON. CONTINUOUS FLOW WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-23.19I5- Patented June 19, 1917.

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J. D. JACKSON. CONTINUOUS FLOW WATER HEATER,

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23.19l5.

Patented June 19, 1917.

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JAMES DOWSON JACKSON, 01? SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA.

CONTINUOUS-FLOW WATER-HEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 19, 1917.

Application filed September 23, 1915. Serial No. 52,230.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES DowsoN J ACK- soN, of 197 Hay street, Sydney, in the State of New South Wales, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Continuous-Flow Water-Heaters Principally for Domestic Purposes, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention 'appertains to the heating of water during continuous flow and has been devised to efiect an improved apparatus, for such'purpose embodying with simplicity of construction a high degree of thermal efliciency and further the factor of being adapted for use as a sterilizing chamher; the apparatus or heater further being particularly applicable for household use as for heating water for baths.

According to this invention the waterheater consists essentially of a plurality of concentric water chambers separated by equal intervening spaces constituting the flue passages each of said chambersbeing in communication at the bottom with a common supply the heating element being introduced'in a horizontal plane at the bottom of said flue passages and passing upwardly therethrough to a common outlet flue passage also disposed horizontally and lying in a vertical plane above the said plane of .application of the heating element.

The water chambers have a limited cross sectional passage area so that the water passes upwardly therethrough in a thin column to better absorb the heat. At the top end of the heater the water from each chamber delivers to a common conductor which may be returned to deliver the volume to a chamber formed on the inner wall of the innermost chamber.

The vertical front and rear ends of the heater, are closed and the front end may have a closely fitting door for the purpose of introducing articles to be sterilized within the chamber formed in said inner wall.

To provide that forced draft will not operate on the flue passages the flue or vent pipe conveying the products of combustion from the heater to the atmosphere has open communication with a vent communlcating with said passages.

To secure greater heating surfaces for water chambers the sheet metal forming same may have the surface contacting with the heating element corrugated or similarly staggered. Again, in lieu of each flue passage being one continuous space it may be partitioned or divided vertically into a series of parallel channels.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings depicting practical applications of this mvention.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of complete heater, Figs. 2 and Sbeing sections of same on the planes 22 and 33 respectively of Fig.1 and Figs. 4 and 5 sections on the planes 41'4 and 55 respectively of Fig. 2.

Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary perspective views showing modified arrangements of the flue passages of the heater.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive:

The water pressure supply to the heater from pipe 10 communicates with the water jacket 11 disposed vertically about the fire box 12 and with the'inner of the concentric water passages 13 by means of a pipe 1 1 from branch pipe 15 (see Fig. 2) the water passing from the jacket 11 to the outer of said passages 12 through the by-passages 16 disposed in the front and rear ends'of said jacket (see Fig. 3).

The annulus contained between the concentric water passages 13 constitutes the bifurcated flue passage 17 proceeding from the mouth of the horizontally disposed fire box 12 upwardly to the horizontal flue outlet 18 that communicates with the pipe 19 delivering into the open end of the vent 20. The flue outlet 18 lies parallelly above and in the same plane as the fire box 12 the members or limbs of the bifurcated flue passage 17 being of equal length and cross sectional area so that the heat from the pipe or tubular gas burner 21 of any approved form mounted in the fire box 12 distributes uniformly between the water passages 12 (see Fig. 2).

The water flowing upwardly through the passages 13 is delivered directly from the inner chamber to the common delivery pipe 22 and to the latter from the outer chamber by means of the branch pipes 23 connected to a cross 24 (see Fig. 2) from which latter is led to the forward end of the heater the pipe 25 having terminal tap 26 disposed outside the heater and also from said cross 2 1 the pipe 27 that passes out of the rear of the heater thence downwardly and is returned into the bottom of the chamber 28 contained within the inner wall of the inner of the water passages 14 (see Fig. 3). This pipe 27 has a valve 29 provided therein as shown in Fig. 3.

The chamber 28 is employed for sterilizing or steaming purposes having longitudi- 'nal supporting rails or bars 30 provided therein for a tray, 31. constructed of perforated material or meshed fabric.

In the front end of .the heater a hinged door 32 is provided covering the space above the tray 31 in the chamber 28, said door being held in closed position bymeans of the catch 33 of any approved type.

The water entering the bottom of the chamber 28 below the tray 31 by means of pipe 27 is delivered from the front end of said chamber 28 by the pipe 3 1 while steam;

enteringsaid chamber 28 is conducted to the vent pipe 20, by pipe 35 passing upwardly from said chamber through theflue exit 18 as shown in Fig. 3.

. To provide that small quantities of boiling water may be withdrawn from the heater a closed receptacle 36 is provided mounted about an upward extension of the pipe 22 which delivers thereto through an elongated slot 37 andsaid pipe conveys the steam from said receptacle 36 to a constant level cistern 38 below the surface of which it terminates and delivers the steam for condensation.

The outer wall of the water acket 11 forms a vertical base for the heater and stands within a tray 39 (see Fig. 1). The burner 21 is connected to the main gas pipe 7 40 through a tap 41 a lighting orifice 42 belatter is also closed when the water willflow to the cistern 38.

The heat from the fire box 12 distributes itself uniformly through the limbs of the bi- "furcated flue passage 17 undue draft being prevented by having the mouth of the flue exit 18 equal in area to the mouth of the fire box 12. i Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7 in which parts similar to those described with refer- I, ence to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive bear corre- H spending reference numerals.

In Fig. 6 the modified arrangement consists in vertically partitioning the bifurcated flue passage 17 proceeding from the fire box 12 into a vertical parallel series by means of the ribs 13 having horizontally disposed staggered projections AA on opposing faces as shown so as to present circuitous paths for the heat.

In Fig. 7 the modified arrangement consists in forming the walls of the flue passage 17 of vertically corrugated sheet metal the walls being so fitted that the ridges contact as shown and thus said flue passage is divided into a parallel series each bifurcated and proceeding from the common fire box 12 to the common exit 18.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a continuous flow water heater, concentric water passages, a bifurcated flue passage formed between said water passages, the limbs of said flue passage being of equal length and cross-sectional area, a common supply connected at the bottom of said water passages, a fire box arranged in a space forming the continuation of said flue passage, and an exit communicating at the top of said flue passage.

2. In a continuous flow water heater, concentricwater passages whereby an annular chamber is formed, peripheral partitions to form a series of bifurcated flue passages, the

limbs of said flue passages being offequal length and cross-sectional area, the fire box communicating at the bottom with s aid flue passages and an exit connected at the top to said flue passages. i 1

3. In acontinuous flow water heater, concentric water passages, a bifurcated flue passage within the annulus to form opposite water passages, a'horizontal fire box at the junction of said flue passage, and a flue exit disposed at the top'end of'said flue passage and in the same vertical plane as said fire box, saidfiue exit havlng the same crosssectional area as the bifurcated flue passage.

4:. An improved continuous flow' water heater, comprising a pair of concentric'water passages, a water jacket communicating with the outer of said tvater passages, fire box within said water jacket, a bifurcated flue passage originating at said firebox and surrounding the lnner of' said water passages, an exit connected to said flue passage, 4

a horizontal flue interposed in the connection between the exit and said'flue passage,

said horizontal flue being of equal cross-section and sectional areas of the bifurcated flue passages and being in communication with the atmosphere, water supply pipes connected to said water jacket and to'the inner of said water passages, and a common delivery conductor connected'to said water passages 5. In a continuous flow water heater, consaid flue passages, and an exit connected at centric water passages whereby an annular the top to said flue passages. 19 chamber is formed, partitions to form a ver- In testimony whereof I affix my signature tical series of bifurcated flue passages, said in presence of two witnesses.

partitions having staggered projections on JAMES DOWSON JACKSON. opposing faces so as to provide circuitous Witnesses:

paths for the heat passing therethrough, a TALFER SIGMOND,

fire box communicating at the bottom with J. PARKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, washington D. G. 

